Enter two latitude/longitude pairs below to calculate the initial compass bearing (direction) from the first point to the second, with a map showing both points and the line between them. Everything is calculated locally in your browser.
Calculated locally in your browser — nothing is sent to our server.
How This Calculation Works
Bearing is the compass direction you’d need to travel in, measured in degrees clockwise from true north (0°), to go from the first point directly toward the second. This tool calculates the “initial” bearing — the direction at the very start of the journey — which is standard for navigation, since the exact bearing technically changes slightly along a long great-circle route. The result is shown both as a precise degree value and as a familiar 16-point compass direction (like NNE or SSW).
FAQ
Is this bearing relative to true north or magnetic north?
True north (the geographic North Pole), not magnetic north. Magnetic north varies by location and drifts over time, so navigation calculations like this one use true north as the fixed reference.
Why does the bearing change if I swap “From” and “To”?
Direction is relative to the direction of travel, so going from B to A points the opposite way from going A to B — the two bearings are typically not simply 180° apart on a long route, due to the Earth’s curvature.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No. The calculation happens entirely in your browser — nothing you enter here is sent to our server.